Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-01
MOUNT VERNON.
THE ANNUAL NETTING OF THE La
DIES ASSOCIATION.
The Work OF Restoration Condition OF
the Grounds and washington's
Tomb-suggestions.
IEor tho Dlapatch.l


The annual meeting OF the Council Of the
Ladies' Mount Vernon Association OF the
Union took place last week at Mount vernon.
It's sessions lasted five days. A number OF
is members were necessarily absent on ac-
count OF sickness. There were present
the regent, Mrs. Laughton. aud the follow
lug yice.regeuts Miss Longfellow, Massa-
chusetts Mrs. Chace, Rhode Island; Mrs.
Townsend, New York; Mrs. Rithbone,
Michigan; Mrs. Letter, Illinois; Mrs.
Barnes, District Of Columbia; Mrs. Ball,
Virginia; Mrs. Washington, West Viz
ginia; Mrs. Walker, North Carolina; Mrs.
PIckens, South Carolina, and Mrs. Rich
ardSoD, Louisiana.
The meeting gave evidence OF an In
creased energy and efficiency in every de-
partment OF the management OF the estate.
Mount Vernon, this year, speaks Tor Itself.
Its mended roads, It's improved drainage,
It's wellkept grounds, aud its restoratlons.
all show care, and visitors have not been
slow TO express their appreciation and COM
mendation.
One OF the most striking and well.exe-
cuted restorations Of the past year Is the
old tomb where Washington was first in-
TERED, and where he lay for thirty years
until the year lS37-when his remains
were removed TO the vault where they
now rest. The old tomb has been restored
exactly TO its original appearance, and this
has been done under the especial direction
Of Mrs. Rathbone for the women OF Michi-
gan.
The present tomb, severely plain and
built OF brick according to directions gwen
by Genera Washington in his Will, has
been q source OF very great and constant
care TO the ladies' who have 1t IN charge.
Back OF it and covered with the hillside
sod lies the vault IN which is cntombed
many OF the Washington family. The
dsmpness accumulating in this closed vault
has continually spread itself through the
front partitions, and has, despite all past ell
forts. injured the appearance oil the
open tomb, where lie the sarcophlgi.
During the past year with great labor
and cxpense) the earth has been removed
from the top OF this vault; new enclosure
OF brick has been built over ITS ruins, and
this has been well covered with Portland
cement, so rendering 1t waterproof Many
suggestions are annually made by visitors,
involving modern improvements to the
plair, old.fashioncd brick structure.
Canon Wherefore recently suggested
marble tomb, and some patriotic people,
who desire TO see as much honor rendered
TO Washington's resting-place by Ameri-
cans as is given Napoleon's by his country
men, desire q "costly mausoeum," "a
chapel," "pink granite" and "onyX.'
So long "a its present guardians have
charge OF this spot its present severe SIM
plicity will be guarded and kept sacred
from modern Improvement. WashingtOn's
simple dignity requires no such tribute,
and the very atmosphere OF Mount Yer
non seems TO fol bid it. In this view OF the
case the suggestion frequently made
through the press that Congress shall aid
the ladies' association by mixing an appro-
priatOn to this end seems quite uncaIled
for.
The following clause from Washington's
will also seems to forbid 1t Z" The family
vault requiring repairs, and beng impro-
perry situated besides, j desire that new
one Of brick, and upon larger scale. may
be built at tie foot OF what Is called the
Vineyard enclosure, on the ground which
j. marked out, in which NY remains and
those OF my deceased relatives now in the
old vault and such Others OF my family as
NAV choose TO be entOmbed there may be
4, posted"
The summer-houSe has this year been
restored in exact conformity TO its appear
ancc of old. This has been done under the
direction OF Mrs. Richardson for the women
Of Louisiana. Much OF the money was con-
tributed by mites from the school children
OF Louisiana.
The old brick terrace wall running
along the river front, and in part enclosing
the deer park, has been mended and re-
stOrtd, and now constitutes a beautiful
feature of the lawn.
Tne sons Of Mrs. Robert Campbell, late
vice.Tegent from Missouri. have recently
most generously doDated $4,000 to restore
the Deer Park. This work will at once be
commenced, and this beautiful restoration
will DO much to enhance the charm OF the
lovely Old place.
Crowds come aud go daily, and with
reverence they tread these avenues aud
wander through the rooms once familiar
with the tread OF the great men OF long ago.
In calm TepOse and unprelenti0uS beau.
ty Mount Vernon lies on tue bank OF the
Potomac, almost under the shadow Of the
monument erected to the honor OF its lord.
The din Of the busy city does not dis
turb lis quiet nor does the city'S palaces
and gorgeous equipage, by contrast, i'm
pair its unostentatiOus beauty. Washing
ton was rich man, but he chose that
Mount Vernon should be, like his own life,
without oslentatious display; and the quiet
cain OF Mount Vernon is to-day one OF its
greatest charms. 4 spot 80 revered and
honorcd by people Of all nations should
ever find warm interest in the heart Of
every NiIsinisn.
Tie report Of the Mount Vernon Asso-
citation, which Is printed annually, furnishes
many interesting statistics, and it is the
wish Of the officers of the ASSOCIATION that
the public shall be informed Of their work.
Y